Suction-sweeper



W. V. ORR.

SUCTION SWEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.1T. 1911.

1 ,346,972 Patented July 20, 1920.

W. V. ORR.

SUCTION SWEEPER.

APPHCATIUN FILED um. 11. 1911.

Patented July 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM V. DRE, 0! CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SUCTION-SWEEPEB.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed January 17, 1917. Serial No. 142,837.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM V. ORR, a citizen of the United States residing at Cleveland in the county of duyahoga and State of (lhio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Suction-Sweepers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings.

This invention re ates to suction cleaners or vacuum cleaning devices of the type wherein a casing having therein a motor and a suction device is moved about over the floor so as to present its inlet mouth to every part thereof. The objects of the invention are, the provision of a device of this character having new and improved means for agitating the floor covering and removing lint and litter therefrom; the provision of new and improved means for operating such agitating mechanism; the provision of new and improved means for supporting the casing; the provision of new and improved means for regulating the height of the inlet mouth above the floor covering; while other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application, wherein I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device, a portion of the nozzle being broken away so as to show the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken at one side of the fan 7 chamber and showin the nozzle in its most depressed position; ig. 3 is a side eleva tional view taken from the same direction as Fig. 2 and showing the nozzle iii its most elevated osition; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the complete device; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 6 is a central sectional view through a modified form of device.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents the fan chamber portion of the suction cleaner casing, having projecting from one side the motor casing 2, and from the other side a collecting nozzle. Thi periphery of the fan casing is also provided with an outletneck 3 to the end of which is attached the dust-bag 4. In the present embodiment the fan casing and motor are intended to be supported with their axis substantially horizontal, although it will be understood that the improvements hereafter to be described can equally well be applied to cleaners of other construction.

The collecting nozzle has an upper wall 5 and a lower wall 6 both of which project forwardly and downwardly from the for ward side of the fan chamber, the opening 7 into the fan chamber being included between them. The wall 6 terminates in a straight horizontal lip 8 substantially perpendicular to the cleaner axis, and the wall 5 terminates at its forward end in a depending lip 9 spaced considerably forward from the lip 8 and preferably substantially parallel thereto. These two lips have defined between them an inlet mouth, the plane of whose edges it will be seen is substantially parallel to the axis of the chamber 1.

The ends of the mouth are defined by walls which first run forwardly from the lip 8 substantially parallel to each other as shown at 10-10 andthence flare outwardly as shown at 11*11 until they meet the lip 9. The walls 11l1 are substantially flush with the lip 8, but the lip 9 is terminated slightly thereabove so as to form a small crevice at 12 when the device is applied to a floor.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the collecting nozzle is hollow and inside the same is supported a kind of skeleton filler having a throat-portion 13 which projects up into the narrowest part of the nozzle adjacent to the inlet opening; a semi-cylindrical portion 14 extending transversely of the cleaner and forming a brush chamber; a transverse wall or curtain 15 between the throat portion and brush chamber, this wall dependingto a point adjacent the floor so as to concentrate the air stream; and upon the forward side or said semicylindrical portion a substantially horizontal bridge 16 which extends to the lip 9. Projecting from the lower face of this bridge are the teeth 17-17 which are preferably of narrow elongated shape and of such an inclination to the cleaner axis that a fore-and-aft line touching the end of any tooth will intersect the o posite end of the tooth adjacent thereto. he inclination of these teeth is such as to cause them to lie substantially parallel to the corresponding end wall 11, the teeth thus being oppositely inclined upon the two sides of the central line. Throughout the major portion of their length these teeth are terminated flush with the plane of the lower edge of the walls 11-11, but at their forward ends they are preferably rounded away so as to merge with the lip 9. At the middle of the inlet mouth, the teeth are preferably omitted for a short distance as shown at 18 so that rags and like bulky litter can be taken up without obstruction. For the same reason the curtain 15 is preferably notched slightly at this point as shown at 19.

Adjacent each of the end walls the bridge 15 is preferabl displaced somewhat to form a channel 20 o greater height for a purpose which will be explained hereafter.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 the lower wall 6 of the nozzle appears as before, but the upper wall 5, instead of bein made hollow and having a sheet metal filler supported therebeneath, is depressed so as itself to define an inlet throat and to form the roof 16 of the inlet mouth, while the teeth 17 may either be cast integrally therewith, or be inserted in the mold so as to have the metal of the casing flow therearound, or maybe made of separate pieces welded or inset therein. In fact these teeth may be made of other things than metal, a clinging flexible substance like rubber being particularly advantageous. VVhatever be the construction, the effect produced upon running the casing backward and forward over the floor will be that these teeth exert a kind of scraping motion as .well as swaying the fibers of the carpet nap from side to side, which tends in a peculiarly eflicient manner to dislodge dirt and litter therefrom, particularly under the influence of the horizontal air stream which enters at the crevice 12 and sweeps between adjacent teeth. Also the combined forward and lateral movement of the teeth tends to roll such things as thread, lint, anddressmakers scraps into little balls which are very easily moved by the air stream. All of this litter is blown violently against the inclined wall 6 up which it is swept by the air stream, the lifting effect being greatly enhanced by the narrowing of the passage due to the wall or curtain 15. The purpose of the channels 20-20 is two-fold, being first, to equalize the air pressure throughout the nozzle, and second, by providing a concentrated air flow along the walls 11-11 to compensate for a leakage of air into the inlet mouth beneath those walls.

Owing to the very large area of this inlet mouth, the total adhesion of the same to the floor coverin is very great, notwithstanding that the teeth 17-17 and crevice 12 prevent the occurrence on any sealing contact. In case a powerful fan be employed or a clinging fabric be under treatment, the cleaner sometimes clings to one spot so as to be movable only with great difiiculty. This difficulty can be overcome by suitably adjusting the vertical height of the nozzle but such admeans for automatically fixing the eleva-.

tion of the cleaner upon the forward stroke and allowing the same to be depressed upon the rearward stroke, one embodiment of my idea being as follows:

A frame or chassis is provided having side members 21-21 which are pivoted at 22 upon a transverse horizontal pin or stud se cured to a suitable bracket 23 carried by the motor casing and having its forward ends embracing the parallel walls 10-10 as shown at 2424 in Fig. 4. The rearward ends of these frame members are connected by a block 25 to which is secured a caster or roller 26. The forward ends of these members are connected by a brace 27 and also carry the brackets 28-28 formed with gudgeons 23 -28 on which are journaled the carrying whee s 29-29.

At a point opposite the fan chamber 1 each of the members 21-21 has pivoted thereto a link 30 whose free end carries a stud 31 by which it is articulated to a second link 32, pivoted to the side of the fan casing. This arrangement forms a kind of toggle joint, which when strai htened, is arrested b means of the step b ock 33 secured by the ad jacent frame member 21. To the extremities of the studs 31-31 are pivoted the arms 34-34: of the handle fork, to the yoke of which is attached the handle 35 by means of which the cleaner is manipulated, the arrangement being such that a forward push upon the handle tends' to straighten the toggle, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus if the forward movement of the cleaner be arrested in any manner, the thrust of the handle will be transformed into a vertical movement, which will elevate the inlet mouth and then either surmount the obstruction or break the sealing effect. Therefore, if the cleaner mouth should catch in the carpet or against the edge of the rug, a push of the handle automatically serves to disengage the same. The downward movement of the inlet mouth can be arrested either by its contact with the floor or by its contact with an adjusting screw 36 secured by the frame and engaging and overhanging part.

In Figs. 1, 2. 3 and 4, I have shown a cylindrical brush comprising a bod 40 located in a chamber 14 and having sha 't extensions 41 projecting outwardly through vertical slots 42 formed in. the end walls 11. To

one or each of these extensions is secured a belt pulley 43 connected by means of a belt 44 to a grooved extension 45 carried by the adjacent wheel 29. A fixed distance between the brush and wheel is maintained by a radius rod 46 swiveled upon each of the gudgeons 28 inside of the corresponding wheel and having at its free end an aperture receiving the shaft 41. This arrangement permits the brush to adjust itself in height independently of the frame or chassis.

While I have described my invention in detail I do not confine myself to those dc tails except as the same are recited in the claims hereto annexed, or rendered necessary by the prior state of the art, since I am aware many changes in the construction and arrangement can be made without departing from the scope of my inventive idea or sacrificing the advantages of my improvement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a suction cleaner, a frame having at least three fioor-engaging carrying wheels, a casing supported wholly upon said frame and having a collecting nozzle formed with a downwardly facing inlet month, an adjustable supporting connection between said frame and said casing, and an operating handle attached to said connection.

2. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging carrying wheels, a casing supported by said frame and having a collecting nozzle formed with a downwardly facing inlet mouth, and an operating handle, said handle being connected to said casing and frame by movable means which upon forward movement of said handle relatively to said casing and frame will raise said casin 3. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging carrying wheels, a casing supported by said frame and having a collecting nozzle formed with a downwardly facing inlet mouth, a toggle joint having its ends connected to said frame and casing respectively, and an operating handle pivoted to said toggle joint.

4. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging carrying wheels, a casing located above said frame and having a. collecting nozzle formed with a downwardly facing inlet month, said casing being movable vertically relatively to said frame, adjustable means carried by said frame and serving to limit the downward movement of said casing relatively thereto, links pivoted to said casing and to said frame and arranged to limit the upward movement of said casing, an operating handle, and con nections between said handle and links whereby a forward movement of said handle will tend to raise said casin 5. In a suction cleaner, a frame having a pair of floor-engaging rollers at its forward end, located one on each side thereof, and a single central roller at the rear thereof, a casing pivoted to the rear part of said frame and having a collecting nozzle projecting beyond the forward end of said frame, said nozzle having a downwardly facing inlet mouth, and means for moving said casing relatively to said frame to vary the height of said inlet mouth above the floor.

6. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor engaging rollers, a casing pivoted to the rear part of said frame and havin a collecting nozzle projecting beyond the orward end of said frame, said nozzle having a downwardly facing inlet mouth, a pair of toggle joints pivoted to said casing and to said frame, one at each side thereof, said toggle joints being adapted to buckle rearwardly, and a handle having a forked end, one arm of which is articulated to each of the tines of the toggle joints.

7. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging rollers, a casing pivoted to the rear part of said frame and havin a collecting nozzle projecting beyond the orward end of said frame. said nozzle having a downwardly facing inlet mouth, a pair of toggle joints pivoted to said casing and to said frame, one at each side thereof, said toggle joints being adapted to buckle rearwardly, and a handle having a forked end, one arm of which is articulated to each of the tines of the toggle joints, and a set screw carried by the forward art of said frame and adapted to engage said casing when said toggle joints are broken.

8. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a downwardly facing inlet mouth, carrying wheels supporting said casing, and operating handle for moving said casing about the surface whereon it is supported by said wheels, and connections between said wheels and handle operative upon increase in opposition to the forward movement of said casing by means of said handle to elevate said suction mouth farther above the surface on which said carrying wheels rest.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

, \VILLIAM V. ORR. 

